Combo feeding means giving your baby both breastmilk and formula. Some parents choose it from day one. Others come to it weeks or months in, because of supply, returning to work, sharing night feeds or simply needing a break. Whatever your reason, it's valid. Feeding your baby isn't an all-or-nothing choice and combo feeding can be a great way to find what works for your family.

Talk to someone you trust first

Every baby and everybody is different. Before you start, have a chat with your child health nurse, GP or a lactation consultant. They can help you choose a formula, work out amounts for your baby and protect your supply if you want to keep breastfeeding.

Start slowly

Many parents find it easiest to introduce formula one feed at a time. Choose a feed where you're often tired or your supply feels lower, like the late-evening feed. Give your baby a few days to adjust before changing anything else. Small, gradual changes are easier on everyone.

Let someone else give the bottle

Some breastfed babies happily take a bottle from mum. Others will refuse it if they can smell breastmilk nearby. Having your partner, a grandparent or a friend offer the first few bottles can help. It also gives you a chance to rest, which is one of the biggest wins of combo feeding.

Be patient with the bottle

It can take a few tries for your baby to get used to a new teat and a new taste. Try a slow-flow teat, hold your baby upright, and let them take breaks. If your baby is fussy, stay calm and try again at the next feed. You're both learning.

Make the formula feeds easy

The more practical the formula feeds feel, the more relaxed they'll be. Night feeds and outings are where most parents get stuck, waiting for water to boil and cool while a baby cries.

A Missta Bottle keeps warm sterilised water (a mix of freshly boiled and pre-boiled cooled water) at a safe, drinkable temperature for up to 12 hours. Its colour-coded lid light shows when the water is ready, so you can mix a bottle in about 25 seconds, whether it's 2am or you're out at the shops.

Always follow the preparation instructions on your formula tin.

Let go of the guilt

If you feel guilty about introducing formula, you're not alone. Many parents do. But a fed baby and a supported, rested parent matter far more than how the milk arrives.

Combo feeding isn't giving up on breastfeeding. It's finding a way that works for you.

Shop the Missta Bottle and make your formula feeds a little easier.